Jeanne Murtaugh, director of strategy for BNY Securities Group, New York, is on a mission.
Having survived two bouts of breast cancer — the last one six years ago — Ms. Murtaugh is out to get people involved not only in helping to find a cure for cancer, but also to get them involved in other charities— and to show the world they're doing it.
In October, she launched Charitable Charms LLC, an organization that designs, creates and sells charms linked to specific charities. So far she has charms for the American Heart Association and the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation.
Through Charitable Charms, Ms. Murtaugh hopes not only to raise funds and awareness for charities, but also to provide opportunities for people to honor others.
"I came by this based on the fact that I had breast cancer twice and the likelihood is I probably could have it again," she said in an interview. "I wanted to take some of my life experiences and create something that would be a tangible symbol to honor and support people.
"It isn't necessarily that the charities need this from a fund-raising standpoint, but I viewed this as an ability to get people who are not necessarily affected by a particular cause or illness involved."
More information is available at www.charmsthatcare.com.
